What should I ask before booking a duct cleaning?
- What exactly is included? How many supply vents and returns, the main trunk lines, the furnace area, and is the dryer vent part of the visit or separate?
- How will you protect my floors and furniture?
- What equipment do you use to pull dust out of the system, and where does it go?
- Will someone look at the ducts first and tell me what they see?
- Is the estimate in writing, and is the price the price?
- What do you do if you find damage, moisture or suspect material?
Plain answers to those six questions tell you most of what you need to know.
What are the red flags?
The EPA and consumer groups warn about a few familiar patterns: a very low advertised price that grows once someone is in your house, a crew that says every duct is full of mold or that you must clean today, and sweeping claims that cleaning will cure allergies or cut your bills. A company that will not put its estimate in writing or cannot say what is included is not one to hire.
Duct cleaning is a fair, useful job when it is done carefully. It does not need hype.
Do certifications and trade groups matter?
Some duct cleaners belong to trade associations or hold training credentials, such as those offered through the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). Ask what a credential covers and how you can check it. A badge on a truck is not a guarantee of good work, and a lack of one does not mean bad work, but a company that is proud of its training will usually tell you about it.
Who do I call for repairs?
Cleaning is not repair. If a duct is crushed, disconnected or leaking, or the furnace is not working right, that is a job for a licensed heating and cooling contractor. A cleaning company can point out what it sees, and should not try to sell you repairs it is not set up to do.
Common questions
Do I need to be home during a duct cleaning?
Most companies want an adult there at the start to walk through the house and at the end to review the work. Ask when you book, and tell the crew about pets, locked rooms and anything fragile.
Should my heating and cooling system be on or off?
Ask the company. Crews usually turn the system off while they work and turn it back on at the end. Do not change your thermostat settings unless they ask you to.
Is a price per vent normal?
Some companies quote per vent, some per system and some by home size. What matters is that the estimate says what is included, so you can compare two quotes on the same terms.
How long does a duct cleaning take?
A whole-home cleaning typically takes a few hours, and larger houses with many vents and long duct runs take longer. A good company gives you a realistic estimate before it starts.
Want a hand? See our cleaning services or where we work.